The second round of the third exam was the quarter-finals.
The first match featured Omoi and Roy.
Both were ninjas from the Cloud Village. Having sparred frequently in daily life, they were well aware of each other's strength levels.
Thus, after a nearly exhibition style fight, the slightly weaker Roy voluntarily conceded to his fellow villager, Omoi.
After their match, it was Uchiha Kazuhiko's turn to face the Rock ninja and Steel Release Kekkei Genkai user, Kōya.
Kōya, a Rock ninja, was around seventeen or eighteen years old somewhat older than other participants this year, but this was quite normal for the Chunin Exams.
After all, many people could only reach elite chunin level in their lifetime.
Kōya, wearing a flashy uniform, jumped into the arena, waving his arms at the surrounding spectators.
Though his features were somewhat handsome, his gleaming bald head detracted from his appearance, failing to elicit screams from the fangirls in the audience.
In contrast, Uchiha Kazuhiko, dressed in very ordinary clothes, walked calmly into the arena yet unexpectedly received enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
The girls' screams made his opponent, Kōya, green with envy.
"Both parties, form the seal of confrontation. Begin the match!"
At Proctor Taruī's command, Kōya immediately charged at Uchiha Kazuhiko. Throwing a punch, his fist, carrying immense force, aimed straight for the face of Uchiha Kazuhiko that he so envied.
"Steel Release: Iron Fist!"
His fist, coated in Steel Release chakra, became harder than ordinary steel. While it might not slice through iron like mud, smashing rocks and breaking wood was effortless.
Uchiha Kazuhiko naturally wouldn't block his attack with a bare fist. He held his Xuantie Tachi horizontally, blocking Kōya's strike.
"Clang!"
A sound like metal clashing rang out. The Xuantie Tachi in Uchiha Kazuhiko's hand bent to a startling degree under the force of Kōya's powerful punch.
If not for its excellent quality, it might have shattered, injuring its wielder.
Uchiha Kazuhiko's expression changed. He had thought the Steel Release only made Kōya's defense strong, never expecting it would grant him such immense strength.
Though not a veteran of a hundred battles, Uchiha Kazuhiko had considerable combat experience. He took half a step back to dissipate Kōya's force and countered with a backhand sweep aimed at Kōya's abdomen.
"Heh, useless. Against Steel Release, taijutsu attacks are meaningless,"
Kōya said, a trace of a sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth upon seeing Uchiha Kazuhiko's counter.
He chanted lightly, "Steel Release: Adamantine Body!"
The sharp Xuantie Tachi whistled through the air, striking Kōya's body.
An attack that would be fatal to a normal person merely tore a rip in Kōya's clothes before being stopped by his skin.
Kōya grabbed Uchiha Kazuhiko's Xuantie Tachi, pulled hard, and Uchiha Kazuhiko's body, pulled by the force, uncontrollably lurched towards him.
"Steel Release: Headbutt!"
Chakra gathered on his forehead. His originally shiny head turned a dark yellow.
His body lunged forward, his bald head smashing towards Uchiha Kazuhiko's head.
Uchiha Kazuhiko wasn't foolish enough to meet him head-on.
He released the tachi with his right hand, leaned his body to the left to avoid Kōya's attack, and drove his knee towards Kōya's abdomen.
"Thud."
A dull impact sound echoed. Uchiha Kazuhiko retreated several steps to create distance, frowning as he looked at Kōya's coldly smiling face.
"Hahaha, you know my ability is Steel Release, yet you still use physical attacks against me? Are all Konoha ninjas as stupid as you? No wonder only one of you is left now."
Kōya didn't pursue. He pretentiously smoothed his shirt, which had been wrinkled by Uchiha Kazuhiko's kick, recklessly damaging Konoha's reputation.
His smug, petty demeanor was infuriating.
"A mere Steel Release. Do you really think it grants absolute physical defense?"
Uchiha Kazuhiko stored the tachi back into his system space, abandoning the idea of using ninjutsu against him. He glanced at Kōya and said,
"Today, I'll show you that the Steel Release you rely on is worthless before my Eight Inner Gates."
"Hahaha, it seems Konoha people, while stupid, are quite good at boasting. Your Uchiha clan's Sharingan might be famous, but that's only for ninjutsu and genjutsu. In taijutsu, it can't compare to my Steel Release Kekkei Genkai."
Kōya dismissed Uchiha Kazuhiko's words, utterly disbelieving that the strength Uchiha Kazuhiko had previously shown could break his Steel Release's super defense.
Uchiha Kazuhiko didn't bother explaining further. He activated the Fourth Gate of the Eight Inner Gates. His chakra surged from his body. His strength and speed increased significantly. His figure moved, instantly vanishing from his spot.
"What?!" Kōya exclaimed in disbelief. Just as he tried to locate the vanished Uchiha Kazuhiko, a tremendous force struck his chin, sending his entire body flying into the sky.
"Primary Lotus!"
In his current physical state, Uchiha Kazuhiko could unleash the Primary Lotus over fifty times consecutively.
Under his relentless punches and kicks, Kōya hung in the air for a full minute before, with a final axe kick, crashed into the hard ground with a 'boom,' leaving a large human-shaped crater.
"Whoa!!"
The audience outside the arena erupted. Though the Primary Lotus lacked the effects of ninjutsu, the impacts of the attacks and the formidable power displayed in the final move were evident even to ordinary spectators.
They applauded and cheered for Uchiha Kazuhiko.
"Cough, cough, cough... How is this possible? My body... Pfft..."
Kōya, his face unusually pale, struggled to stand but felt intense pain in his internal organs. He couldn't help but vomit a mouthful of foul blood mixed with bits of internal organs.
"Heh, a mere Rock ninja, nothing more,"
Uchiha Kazuhiko retorted to Kōya's earlier provocation. Under the other's puzzled gaze, he explained,
"Your Steel Release only strengthens your bones, muscles, and skin. I was attacking your still vulnerable internal organs."
Although Uchiha Kazuhiko used the Eight Inner Gates, his attacks weren't simple strong fist strikes. They were mixed with the of internal force from the "Qin's Moon" world.
While he appeared unharmed externally, the force penetrated his powerful defensive exterior, utterly devastating his internal organs.
"Pfft... I don't believe it... Steel Release is the strongest..."
After hearing Uchiha Kazuhiko's words, Kōya coughed a few times like a broken bellows, spraying another large mouthful of blood.
His eyes grew dim as he stared blankly at the sky, muttering incessantly until he completely lost consciousness.
"Contestant number three, Kōya, is deceased. The winner is Uchiha Kazuhiko."
Proctor Taruī appeared on the field with a Body Flicker, crouched to check Kōya's condition, and announced the match's result.
Uchiha Kazuhiko secured victory, once again receiving the audience's enthusiastic cheers.
Under the hateful gazes of the Rock ninjas, he jumped back to the stands to watch the remaining two matches.